Expansion slot cover having retaining structure

ABSTRACT

A slot cover ( 30 ) is for covering a slot ( 21 ) defined in a rear wall ( 20 ) of a computer chassis. The slot cover includes a body ( 31 ), and a fixing portion ( 32 ) bent from one end of the body. The body includes an inserting portion ( 33 ) at an opposite end thereof. A free end of the fixing portion is bent to form a hook ( 321 ), the hook being substantially parallel to the body. In assembly, the inserting portion is inserted through a corresponding receiving hole ( 23 ) of the rear wall, and the hook is engaged in a corresponding cutout ( 221 ) defined in a supporting plate ( 22 ) of the rear wall. A clamp ( 10 ) is slid so that it sandwiches the fixing portion of the slot cover with the supporting plate. The clamp is fastened to the supporting plate with a screw, thereby securing the slot cover to the rear wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to expansion slot covers forcovering expansion slots of computer chassis, and particularly to a slotcover having a retaining structure for readily and securely attachingthe slot cover to a computer chassis.

[0003] 2. Related Art

[0004] A typical chassis of a personal computer includes a rear wallwhich is the input-output (I/O) interface of the computer. Circuit cardssuch as I/O cards, storage cards, graphics cards, communication cards,modem cards and network interface communication cards are commonlyinstalled in the chassis adjacent the rear wall, the cards respectivelyexpanding the computer's capability. The rear wall defines a pluralityof slots for accessing ports of the respective cards. If a slot has nocorresponding card, a slot cover is used to cover the slot and protectthe inside of the chassis from contamination and electromagneticinterference (EMI).

[0005] A conventional slot cover comprises a metal plate and anoutwardly bent tab at one end of the plate. A notch is defined in thetab, and is disposed in registration with a hole defined in the rearwall. The slot cover can thus be secured to the rear wall by a fastener,as described in more detail below.

[0006] In a slot cover assembly as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,171,the fastener is a screw. Each slot cover is secured to a computerchassis by a screw, the screw extending through a notch of a tab of theslot cover and engaging in a hole of the chassis. However, wheninstalling or removing several expansion cards, fastening with screws islaborious and time-consuming. In addition, a tool is usually required.

[0007] In slot cover assemblies as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,138,839and 5,967,466, the fastener is a clamp. The clamp comprises a pluralityof pins, or a plurality of spring tabs. The pins and the spring tabsperform substantially the same function. Therefore, for brevity, onlythe pins will be described herebelow. When a slot cover is secured to acomputer chassis, each pin is engaged in a corresponding notch of eachslot cover and a corresponding hole defined in a rear wall of thechassis. Therefore, the clamp must be precisely fabricated, to ensurethat all of the pins can correctly engage in the notches and the holes.This makes production of the clamp more problematic and costly.

[0008] Thus, a new retaining structure for a slot cover is desired tosolve the above-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide aslot cover having a retaining structure for readily and securelyattaching the slot cover to a computer chassis.

[0010] To achieve the above-mentioned object, a slot cover in accordancewith the present invention is for covering a slot defined in a rear wallof a computer chassis. The slot cover includes a body, and a fixingportion bent from one end of the body. The body includes an insertingportion at an opposite end thereof. A free end of the fixing portion isbent to form a hook, the hook being substantially parallel to the body.In assembly, the inserting portion is inserted through a correspondingreceiving hole of the rear wall, and the hook is engaged in acorresponding cutout defined in a supporting plate of the rear wall. Aclamp is slid so that it sandwiches the fixing portion of the slot coverwith the supporting plate. The clamp is fastened to the supporting platewith a screw, thereby securing the slot cover to the rear wall.

[0011] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the presentinvention will be drawn from the following detailed description of apreferred embodiment of the present invention with attached drawings, inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a slot cover of the presentinvention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of a slot cover assembly ofthe present invention; the slot cover assembly comprising a plurality ofthe slot covers of FIG. 1, a clamp, and a rear wall of a computerchassis; and

[0014]FIG. 3 is an enlarged, assembled view of FIG. 2, viewed fromanother aspect.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a slot cover 30 of the present inventionhas a retaining structure adapted to cover an expansion card slot 21defined in a rear wall 20 of a computer chassis. The slot cover 30 issecured to the rear wall 20 by a clamp 10.

[0016] Preferably, the rear wall 20 defines a plurality of parallelexpansion card slots 21. A supporting plate 22 is stamped and extendsperpendicularly outwardly from the rear wall 20, leaving an opening 220in the rear wall 20 and at a same end of the slots 21. The supportingplate 22 defines a first fixing hole 222 in a middle portion thereof.The supporting plate 22 also defines a plurality of cutouts 221 in adistal edge portion thereof, each of the cutouts 221 corresponding to arespective one of the slots 21. A pair of openings 24 is defined in arecessed portion of the rear wall 20 that is adjacent the supportingplate 22. The rear wall 20 defines a plurality of receiving holes 23adjacent a same end of the slots 21 that is opposite from the supportingplate 22. Each receiving hole 23 corresponds to a respective one of theslots 21.

[0017] The clamp 10 comprises two adjoining plates (not labeled) thatare perpendicular to each other. A second fixing hole 11 is defined inone of the plates, corresponding to the first fixing hole 222 of thesupporting plate 22. The other plate forms a pair of latches 12 formovably engaging in the openings 24 of the rear wall 20.

[0018] The slot cover 30 comprises a substantially rectangular body 31,and a fixing portion 32 perpendicularly bent from one end of the body31. The body 31 comprises an inserting portion 33 at an opposite endthereof. A free end of the fixing portion 32 is bent to form a hook 321.The hook 321 is substantially parallel to the body 31, and is forengaging in a corresponding cutout 221 of the supporting plate 22.

[0019] In pre-assembly, the inserting portion 33 of the slot cover 30 isinserted through a corresponding receiving hole 23 of the rear wall 20.At the same time, the hook 321 of the slot cover 30 engages in thecorresponding cutout 221 of the supporting plate 22.

[0020] In assembly, the clamp 10 is placed on the recessed portion ofthe rear wall 20. The latches 12 of the clamp 10 are engaged in theopenings 24 of the rear wall 20. The clamp 10 is slid so that it abutsthe fixing portion 32 of the slot cover 30, and sandwiches the fixingportion 32 with the supporting plate 22. A screw (not labeled) isinserted into the first fixing hole 11 of the clamp 10 and engaged inthe second fixing hole 222 of the supporting plate 22. The slot cover 30is thereby secured to the rear wall 20.

[0021] It is understood that the invention may be embodied in otherforms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the presentexample and embodiment is to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limitedto the details given herein.

1. A slot cover adapted to be secured to a wall of a chassis to cover aslot of the wall, the slot cover comprising: a body comprising aninserting portion at one end thereof; and a fixing portion bent from anopposite end of the body, a free end of the fixing portion bent to forma hook for engaging with the wall, the hook being substantially parallelto the body.
 2. A slot cover assembly comprising: a wall defining atleast one slot and comprising a supporting plate; at least one slotcover comprising a body covering the at least one slot, a fixing portionbent from one end of the body, and a hook bent from a free end of thefixing portion, the hook engaging with the supporting plate; and a clamppressed on the fixing portion of the at least one slot cover andfastened to the wall, the clamp comprising first and second plates, thefirst plate sandwiching the fixing portion with the supporting plate. 3.The slot cover assembly as described in claim 2, wherein the walldefines at least one opening adjacent one end of the at least one slot,and at least one receiving hole at an opposite end of the at least oneslot.
 4. The slot cover assembly as described in claim 3, wherein thehook is substantially parallel to the body, and the body furthercomprises an inserting portion at an opposite end thereof engaging inthe at least one receiving hole of the wall.
 5. The slot cover assemblyas described in claim 2, wherein the supporting plate extends outwardlyfrom an end of the at least one slot, and the supporting plate definesat least one cutout engagingly receiving the hook of the at least oneslot cover.
 6. The slot cover assembly as described in claim 3, whereinthe supporting plate defines a first fixing hole therein, the firstplate of the clamp defines a second fixing hole therein corresponding tothe first fixing hole, and the second plate of the clamp comprises atleast one latch movably engaging in the at least one opening of thewall.
 7. A slot cover assembly comprising: a vertical wall having ahorizontal support plate stamped and perpendicularly extendingtherefrom, leaving a corresponding opening in the wall; at least onevertical expansion slot formed in the wall and extending into thesupport plate; an elongated slot cover including a vertical bodycovering the at least one expansion slot, and a horizontal fixingportion perpendicularly extending from a top portion of the body with aninterengaging device horizontally latching to the support plate forpreventing said slot cover from horizontally moving away from saidsupport plate; and a clamp fastened to the wall, said clamp including afirst plate cooperating with said support plate to sandwich the fixingportion therebetween, and a second plate being perpendicular to saidfirst plate and covering said opening.
 8. The assembly as described inclaim 7, wherein said support plate extends outwardly to an exteriorside of the wall.
 9. The assembly as described in claim 7, wherein saidsupport plate defines a cutout along an edge thereof, and the fixingportion defines a hook received in said cutout.
 10. The assembly asdescribed in claim 8, wherein said wall defines a receiving hole on aninterior side of the wall and under the expansion slot to receive aninsertion portion of said body.